FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where does radon come from? Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water – and gets into the air you breathe. When you inhale, you breathe in both radon and radon decay products.

How does radon get into the home? Radon can get into any type of building (homes, offices, schools) and cause elevated indoor radon levels. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home where you spend the majority of your time. Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above, and into your home thru cracks and other holes in your foundation. Your home then traps radon inside where it can build up to dangerous levels.

What is an acceptable level of radon? There is no such thing as an acceptable level of radon. A safe level of radon gas is no radon gas. The US EPA clearly states, “any radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer. The lower the radon level in your home, the lower your family’s risk of lung cancer.”

The EPA has set a practical guideline of 4 pCI/L (picocuries per liter) as the action level for indoor radon measurements. At or above this level, the EPA recommends you take corrective measures to reduce your exposure to radon gas. Unfortunately, two-thirds of all homes exceed this level.

Are we sure that radon is a health risk? The EPA has a wealth of scientific data on the relationship between radon exposure and the development of lunch career.